What questions should you ask regarding PCO car hire?

Working as a private hire driver has long been an attractive employment solution for thousands of people up and down the country. One of the most important aspects to take care of before working in this field is getting the right PCO car, and there are a few important boxes that you’ll need to tick to get the right option. 

Knowing what questions to ask during your search can make things a lot easier, which is why we’ve put this quick guide together. From cancellation terms to cost increases, these are a few things to keep in mind when looking for your next PCO car hire solution. 

What are the cancellation terms?

One of the first things you’ll want to ask is what the cancellation terms look like. For example, you should check how long a time frame you have to commit to when leasing a car – can you do 6 months? Or is the minimum term two years?

If you were to cancel mid-way through, would you have to pay a fee, and if so, how much would it be? It might be that you’re certain you’ll want to work with that specific car for the next few years, but even so, if you’re hit by a bout of ill health or have a family emergency, you may need a way out of the contract that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. 

Who takes care of paperwork?

Next, you need to be clear on who deals with all of the paperwork side of things. When you drive a car for private hire work, it needs to be registered with the relevant authorities, and have a specific kind of insurance. 

Make sure that you’re clear on whether insurance and registration are going to be your responsibility, or if the PCO car hire company will take care of all of that for you. 

It can be a lot more convenient to use a service that deals with that side of things for you, even if it does end up costing slightly more. You’ll be busy enough with your day-to-day work, and making a bureaucratic mistake (which is easily done) could end up keeping you off the road for weeks at a time. 

Who deals with maintenance?

You’ll also want to check who will be responsible for maintaining the vehicle. Some companies might give you the car and then ask you to take care of everything from then on until you return it to them. Others, however, will provide a complete service, carrying out both unexpected repairs and routine maintenance on the car. 

If you’re choosing to hire a car instead of owning one, then you’re likely looking for less personal responsibility when it comes to ownership and maintenance. 

It can be a good idea to choose a provider that takes care of maintenance for you, if that is the case, as this will allow you to focus solely on driving, and not have to stress about finding a reliable and consistently available mechanic. 

How do cost increases work?

Depending on the price structure you choose, it’s very possible that there will be some price rises as the months and years go by. If this is the case, then you need to make sure that you’re absolutely clear on how these cost increases will work, and when you should expect them.

There’s nothing worse than signing up for what seems like an incredible deal, only to find out after a few months that you’re now locked into an extortionate contract for another 2 years. 

On this topic of communication more generally, you can often glean some important insights by checking the reviews of the car hire companies that you’re comparing. If they’re known for hiking prices unexpectedly, then someone will likely have reported that somewhere. 

What support is offered?

There is a chance that you’ll experience issues with your vehicle, and when this happens, you want to make sure that you’re able to get the right support. 

Whether that’s roadside assistance or licensing issues, ask the car hire service how their support system works, specifically enquiring about who you should call for certain issues, how quick the response will be, and what time restrictions there might be on any of these services.

How this support is provided in practice can have a huge impact on how stressful your professional experience is, and it’s worth choosing a team that’ll have your back when you really need support the most. 

What vehicle will you receive?

Of course, you also need to know what vehicle it is that you’ll be getting. When you sign up for a Toyota Prius Plugin, for example, is that the exact vehicle that you’ll receive, or will you just get a vehicle that fits that general range of specifications?

You’ll also want to ask about the condition of the vehicle, including its age, mileage, and any cosmetic issues that it might have. All of these potential issues need to be smoothed out before, not after you sign the contract, to avoid disappointment and any misunderstandings.

Are replacement cars provided?

When your car needs to go in for servicing, or if it experiences any other issues, you’ll want to find a way of staying on the road. Check if the service you’re considering using offers replacement cars and if so, how that process works. 

For example, how long will you have to wait for your replacement vehicle? Will it be good to go straight away, or will you have to wait a few days to get any licensing issues sorted out? All of these details can have an impact on your ability to earn, and you need to get them ironed out early on.

Getting the right PCO car isn’t too difficult, so long as you know how to navigate the process. By asking these questions, you can make it a lot more likely that you have a service that you trust and understand, making life a lot easier for you over the years to come.